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Reviews
Blind Guardian: Imaginations Through the Looking Glass (2004)
100% Quality and Attention to Detail
It's going to be a challenge to keep this brief...
From the first time you pick up the box, you know that Blind Guardian went all out on this, their first DVD release. It has an attractive sleeve with eye-popping fantasy artwork, a solid plastic case for the 2 DVD's, and a nice 2 page foldout that maps the features on the discs. I kind of wish there was a more complete tour book with it, but nevertheless, what is provided is very good.
I watched the bonus feature DVD first. Nice, attractive menues without any lame animations that serve no purpose other than to make you wait and wait to see what you want to see. Here and there, you will see some cute and unobtrusive graphics thrown in, such as a goblin facing the stage when you start the "making of" section. The dialogue is all in German, but subtitles are provided. It's interesting stuff if you don't know anything about the band, but if you're a die hard Guardian fanatic, you won't learn anything new. The live performances on the bonus DVD are stellar.
Now... the main feature, DVD 1, the concert. This is where my 100% Quality and Attention to Detail comment comes in to play. Masterful! The sound is crisp and clear, the camera work is beautiful, and the color and clarity jumps off the screen. The exciting festival atmosphere is brought fully to life on this disc. For those of you familiar with Blind Guardian, Hansi, as a lead singer, is not a very energetic showman... he pretty much stands and sings. However, his voice is flawless, and the enthusiasm of the band and especially the crowd MORE than makes up for that fact. Hansi's wry smiles and sometimes goofy facial expressions can be appreciated by any fan, anyway.
Much attention is given to making sure the listener hears everything clearly. On this DVD, you don't get any of those concert sound dropouts. While that is a great thing, major music enthusiasts will probably notice several sudden and dramatic changes in acoustic levels to get the desired effects. If you like this band, however, it won't bother you. When it's time for an awesome solo, the guitars are cranked up. In key vocal moments, Hansi's mic is very loud. During the classic Bard's Song, the audience will just blow you away... it's no wonder that the theater audience stood for this song in Germany when this DVD was played for the first time on the silver screen.
Over all... LOVE it. I'll be watching this one again and again. Blind Guardian's Imaginations Through the Looking Glass easily rivals the grandeur of the likes of Iron Maiden, and for those that know me, that's QUITE a declaration.